Saturday, September 28, 2013

A Hidden Perk



Most people, when they hear about my volunteer work with the Red Cross, always seem to ask, "What's it like?"

And I'll mention the constant traveling, the variety of sleeping arrangements, the amazing people that I meet all over the country, as well as the high-sodium food that one devours while on deployments.

But, little do they know of one secret little perk, which I'm about to share with you all today.

I'll let you read the text conversation I was having with my supervisor yesterday...her words are in grey; mine are in green:




A "rub down"???!!!

Bwahahahahahahahaha.

Oh my goodness, I laughed. And laughed. And laughed. As frustrating as it can be for me to text (I have never developed the knack for fast texting), it's things like this that keep me texting.

So...a rub down. Don't tell anyone about this little perk - it's a secret.

Peace.


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Friday, September 27, 2013

What We've Got Here....




The power of communication.


Several days ago, I used my hotel room's one laundry bag and one laundry sheet/list to send an order of dirty clothes out to be washed. They did a wonderful job (same-day service, as well!), and it was now time to send out some more.

A bit of a problem, though - they had never replaced the bag/sheet that I had used for my first order.

So, yesterday morning, I left a brief note for the hotel housekeeper, that read:

"May I please have a laundry bag and sheet?"

When I returned to my room last night, I had exactly that waiting for me:




A laundry bag and a sheet. A BED sheet. Ack.

Obviously, what we've got here is a failure to communicate...can someone PLEASE tell me what that thingy is called - the list of the laundry, with the prices, that you fill out and leave with your bag of dirty clothes?

In the meantime, I not only have to wonder what the housekeeper thought I wanted with an extra bed sheet - but I am totally impressed that she gave me one.

Peace.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Purple Mountains Majesty



Another day...another dollar.

Wait.

As a volunteer with the Red Cross...I don't get a DIME for all of this fun I'm having...I get it for FREEEEEEEE!!! Squeeeeee!!!!!


Today was pretty typical...we hit the road early, to begin the 45-minute drive north to Longmont, which is quickly becoming our home-away-from home. We usually arrive a bit early, so a quick trip to our favorite Starbucks is always on the agenda - and we can sip our morning libations and get the caffeine pumping while conference-calling into Headquarters for our morning updates.

It rained/snowed a few days ago, and the peaks off in the distance are wearing their "white hats" - which offers a beautiful backdrop as we prepare for our day. Colorado is certainly one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited, and it never gets old....



After the call, Allan and I begin covering the various Red Cross sites within the town...we have Emergency Aid Stations set up, as well as Disaster Recovery Centers. In both areas, clients can come and perhaps talk with a mental health worker, or pick up cleaning supplies for their home. Allan and I bounce back and forth between the sites, seeing how things are going and talking with the various clients and volunteers to make sure all is going well. Besides the residents, we've chatted with Red Cross volunteers from all over the country, doing a variety of functions within the organization. It's fascinating to see how everyone works together for the mission - which is taking care of the people affected by the flooding.

Lunch in Longmont has been at the local Panera's Bread - as they have a dedicated gluten-free menu, which makes ordering a meal a heck of a lot easier on me. Today, the manager called me by my first name without me telling her what it was, and as I looked at her in surprise, she explained, "Well - you've been in here almost every day - I recognize you by now."

See. I TOLD you I should just become a resident of Longmont. Everyone knows me by name. Hee.

Speaking of knowing people, I have a friend in Longmont (of COURSE I do, as I seem to have a friend in just about every city in the world, which is pretty awesome!) Anyway, Jan came over to one of the sites in the afternoon so we could have a brief reunion. She quickly filled my partner and I in on the situation around town - who is still having difficulty accessing their home, who needs supplies, etc - and it was very helpful. Getting a handle on things by talking to the locals is HUGE - and very, very informative.

What's weird is that I hung out with Jan just three weeks ago when I was in Estes Park for Girls Weekend Out - and here we were again, meeting up after a disaster pummeled her community. Who would have ever have guessed we'd be back together again so soon, and under these circumstances??!!


Jan and I...in beautiful Colorado....


The rest of the afternoon was spent chasing down some leads and collecting more information...pretty typical lately for us. After another long, long drive back to our hotel, I love nothing more to kick off my shoes, put my slippers on, and just veg out.

I've been working seven days straight, so tomorrow I'm taking a much-needed day off. Big plans are in store - I'm going to go visit the mountains, and then head down to Denver "proper" - to take in the sights and the sounds and the scenery and the culture. Perhaps some culinary delights along the way, as well.

This is the halfway point of my deployment...one week down, one to go. Proud of what I've done, but knowing I have much more to accomplish before heading home.

Peace.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Rainbows, Lollipops and Gumdrops...and Cats??


Wouldn't it be lovely if life consisted of nothing more than rainbows and lollipops and gumdrops???

And actually, I'd add chocolate to that list, too, because we all know DARN WELL that life isn't worth living without chocolate.

Unfortunately, real life just doesn't work that way. There's a little thing called the "Pendulum Theory" - that says for every swing to one side of a continuum, there will be an equally strong swing to the opposite side.

Yesterday, life was rainbows and lollipops and gumdrops - with a bit of awesomeness on the side. So...what would today bring??

Good question...and let's just say that today was...interesting. Let's just say that most of today was spent diffusing potentially explosive situations - and although we were ultimately successful in dealing with certain issues, it took most of the day - and most of our energies - to handle things. In some ways, it was a very good learning experience, as we all must learn to deal with potential adversity - especially on a disaster response - so it was all good.

I DID manage to sneak in a highlight, though. Way, way back in the fall of 2008 - probably at this exact same time of year - I was deployed in Galveston, Texas - working with fellow Red Cross volunteers after Hurricane Ike. There, I met Ron - a pretty cool guy that was on my ERV crew.


Me on the left...Ron on the right...in Galveston, back in 2008....

After the disaster, Ron went back to his home in California, and I went back to Kansas City - and although we would periodically stay in touch on Facebook, we hadn't seen each other in person since.

Ron and his wife, Suzanne, moved to Boulder, Colorado a few years ago. And guess where I was today? I just happened to be in Boulder, Colorado. In fact, after our "situation" was handled, I gave Ron a call to see how he was doing - and his house was amazingly less than a mile from where I was. Well. It was a no-brainer that my partner and I just HAD to swing by and see Ron and Suzanne. Seriously, after not seeing someone for five years or so - and they're less than a mile away - it was destiny.

Ron & Suzanne have continued to be Red Cross volunteers, and recently worked as managers at a Red Cross shelter here in Boulder right after the flooding:

ARC_Boulder_001
Ron at the shelter...with Suzanne in the middle....


We didn't have much time to spend with them, but we spent a delightful hour sharing Red Cross stories and life updates. This is the cool thing about my experiences in Red Cross - I seem to have "family" in just about every city in the country...and no matter where I go, I'll always be able to hook up with someone whom I may not have seen in five years.

All in all, not that bad of a day - although it certainly had all the makings initially of something disastrous.

Besides - Ron and Suzanne had cats. And life can NEVER be disastrous when a contented, purring cat is sitting on your lap.

Peace.

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Monday, September 23, 2013

THIS Is What It's All About



Wow. Today.

How do I describe it?

Today was truly one of those days that reminds me why I do it. Why I take off, with no warning, leaving my friends and family behind, to head off to the next disaster. Why I put up with disorganization, frustration, strange hotel rooms, strange roommates, and less-than-ideal circumstances.

Today.

Today, the citizens of Lyons, Colorado were FINALLY being allowed back into their devastated small mountain community in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. My partner and I went early so that we could be there when they came in, and after going through the National Guard checkpoint, we found the other Red Cross volunteers who were waiting with supplies, tools, snacks and water.

Soon, they came. The people came. And words cannot do justice to what I saw today, and what emotions I experienced.

We sat back and just observed at first, as we didn't want to disrupt the reunions taking place..as friends, neighbors, coworkers - reunited with each other after not seeing each other for two weeks. Some didn't know if others had survived...so there were hugs, tears of joy, and literally, dancing in the streets. I cried for them, and I cried with them, as they all attempted to tell us what it had been like...the uncertainty, the not-knowing, the frustration, and the fear.

It was amazing. It was restorative. It was hopeful.

It made me so proud to be a part of this...to see the determination and resilience on the people's faces...as they checked on each other and began making plans on how to rebuild their town.

Not even a flyover by Vice-President Joe Biden in a low-flying helicopter could interrupt the hugging and talking going on...he didn't even rate a glance from the town, as they could only focus on each other.

A few photos:



This lady insisted on taking me for a short tour, to show me where the bridge USED to be...and now it's gone, as well as the road behind her...




I talk with a city employee of Lyons, who tells me her amazing story of survival and rescue during the flooding....




A retired 911 dispatcher from the city came by to not take anything, but just to thank the Red Cross for being there....



That small park behind the ERV was soon full of people...a neighborhood block party like no other....




There's no better feeling than knowing you're helping people after a disaster...it's not about the stuff, but about the hope....


This is what it's all about, folks. This is what it's all about.

Neighborhoods. Community. Support. Love. Hope.

Peace.

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